Bohai Sea integrated communication and sensing network goes into formal operation

According to China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd., the Bohai Sea integrated communication and sensing network entered service on 15 October, marking the start of a new phase of high-speed connectivity and full-domain sensing across the waters. The network delivers broadband communications and real-time sensing services with high speed, stability and reliability for all marine activities.

The Bohai Sea serves as a key navigable waterway in northern China. Demand for reliable communication and sensing support has grown steadily alongside the expansion of passenger and freight shipping, oil and gas exploitation, fisheries and offshore wind power. Maritime supervision, emergency search and rescue and passenger transport operations all require improved digital infrastructure. Under the coordination of the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport, the North China Navigation Support Centre has formed a cross-industry partnership with China National Offshore Oil Corporation and China Mobile. The team built the long-range offshore communication and sensing network by making use of offshore oil platforms and submarine optical cables within the Bohai Oilfield.

Forty-eight offshore 5G base stations, eight VHF stations, six AIS stations and four hydrological observation stations have been deployed across the central Bohai Sea. The network achieves an overall signal coverage rate of 95 per cent, while 5G coverage exceeds 80 per cent. Signals now reach all major anchorages, shipping lanes and navigation channels in the region.

An estimated 300,000 vessel voyages and five million passenger trips will benefit annually from the upgraded connectivity. The infrastructure provides precise data for maritime traffic oversight and emergency response, and lays a digital foundation for oil and gas extraction, fishing, offshore wind and smart shipping to raise operational efficiency.

Four core technical innovations underpin the new network. All AIS stations deployed feature domestically developed hardware and software under independent control, boosting vessel data exchange, while hydrological stations on oil platforms strengthen tidal current forecasting and analysis. Existing land-sea communication assets of the Bohai Oilfield are reused to form stable transmission links, with transmission speed increased by fifty times compared with the prior setup. Luneburg lens antennas and four-band diversity reception technology, paired with custom onboard network enhancement equipment, extend the maximum single-site coverage distance to 30 nautical miles. An independently developed analytical module handles data cleansing, fusion calculation, situation assessment, intelligent analysis and monitoring alerts to form an integrated digital base.